Turriff joins Scotland Loves Local campaign
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Turriff has joined a national initiative to boost town centre recovery following the coronavirus pandemic.
Scotland Loves Local has been launched to encourage people living in Scotland to support their high street in line with public health guidelines by thinking local first whenever possible.
While we are now phasing out of lockdown, the pandemic has brought about significant challenges for businesses.
Turriff has a history of celebrating its small local businesses - including having been shortlisted for High Street Of The Year twice and winning the title of Most Beautiful High Street in 2018 - and many people have relied on the services offered by Turriff businesses during lockdown.
Announcing their participation in the campaign, Turriff Business Association took the opportunity to reassure anybody who has not yet ventured back to the shops that local businesses are taking as many precautions as possible to keep everybody safe, including social distancing markers, limiting the number of customers in their shop, easy access to hand sanitiser upon entry and departure and the wearing of protective face coverings.
Commenting Turriff councillor Alastair Forsyth said: “These last few months have been hard for many of our town centre businesses and other small enterprises.
“Turriff Business Association members some of whom have been at the heart of community response campaigns during the crisis – have been forced to temporarily close throughout lockdown, with customers instead turning to large internet retailers.
"I therefore very much welcome this initiative and hope people will support their local businesses.”
Chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership Phil Prentice said: “The impact of coronavirus has hit our town centres and local businesses hard.
"Now is the time for us all to support them to get back on their feet in a way which recognises that we still need to stay safe and follow the public health guidelines.
“By thinking local first, we can help Scotland’s economic recovery from its grassroots, supporting our town centres within all of the public safety guidelines.
"The impact we can have by doing this should not be underestimated.
“The breadth of businesses in our town centres is vast.
"Whether you need a book, a pint of milk, a night out and a meal or some garden furniture, please think local first.
“Scotland Loves Local is all about getting people back to their roots and recognising that our town centre businesses and the people who run them are part of the fabric of our communities.
"Sometimes for generations these people have been there for us.
"Now it’s time for us to be there for them.
"One of the great positives of the terrible times in which we have found ourselves has been the greater appreciation of localism.
"We must now harness that to keep our communities vibrant and lay firm foundations as we work to ensure our town centres are fit for the future.”
To get involved in the initiative all you need to do is shop locally and show your support for Turriff's businesses.
You can also spread the word about the campaign and share your favourite local purchases by using the hashtag #ScotlandLovesLocal on social media.
